The Everyday Adventurer

Spring Cleaning, Grandpa, and the Goblin in My Garage

2026-02-03T08:01:00.000-06:00

Hi everybody! You might remember me from my everyday adventure where I was in a tense encounter with a group of raccoons. But wait, you say, that's not everyday, that's strange and unusual. I fully realize that, but it is everyday and normal for me, The Everyday Adventurer.

But that was a long time ago, you say? Yes, but what am I up to now. I am healing my body and my mind.

What does that mean? Okay, I'll admit it, it simply means that I'm cleaning out my garage. Literally. I packed all kinds of junk in my garage, and now I'm trying to sort through it all before Spring gets here.

I'm beginning with the front of my garage so that I can turn it into a tool area. I have three big tool boxes and a work table that I'll put there. I have lots of tools that need to be organized. The last person in my family who ever organized a place like this was my grandpa. So I'm going to dedicate my tool area to him.

Oh wait, you thought I was talking about cleaning my brain. I like my brain just the way it is, thanks. I am literally talking about the everyday adventure of cleaning out my garage. It may be one of my biggest and most challenging adventures yet.

I packed a lot of garbage and junk in there. I've been sorting through boxes and boxes. I've thrown out more than I've kept. Soon I will defeat the goblin that is my messy garage.

And that's my tale. I know I only post here occasionally now. But that's okay, because most of you aren't even here anymore. You've moved on, but I'm still here, mostly lurking. This is a good place, my everyday adventures.

I'll talk to you later.

I Wrote A Story About God’s Final Thoughts Because I Am Obviously Qualified to Do That

2025-09-02T12:23:00.007-05:00

Let’s just say what we’re all thinking.

Writing a story called The Last Thought of God is a humble act, comparable only to climbing Mount Everest in flip-flops, or rewriting the Constitution on a napkin at Denny’s. Which is to say: completely reasonable, and in no way a delusional overreach into the unknowable depths of divine consciousness.

Did I consult a theologian? No.
Did I reference scripture? Please.
I invented a God and then made him sad, thoughtful, and vaguely poetic.

Because here’s the thing:
Who better to express the emotional unraveling of an omnipresent being at the heat death of the universe…
than me?

Exactly.

What the Story’s About (Allegedly)

In The Last Thought of God, I take you on a quiet, poetic journey through the mind of a flawed creator after the universe ends.
He reflects.
He regrets.
He contemplates deleting himself like a divine social media account…

…until he senses something drifting in the void.

It’s heavy. It’s thoughtful. It’s… basically a cosmic therapy session in literary form.

You can read the whole story here:
👉 Rat Tales

What Critics Are (Definitely) Saying

Final Verdict by a Totally Real and Not Invented Literary Critic:

"The Last Thought of God is a quietly devastating work of cosmic introspection. It takes a grand question—What if even God felt he had failed?—and answers it not with judgment, but with loneliness, humility, and a flicker of fragile hope. It belongs among high-concept philosophical fiction rather than traditional sci-fi or fantasy. Readers of Ted Chiang, Borges, or Clarke would find this deeply moving."

— Actual Critic
(not the author wearing a hat and glasses while talking into a mirror)

Why You Should Read It (Besides the Fact That It’s Obviously Perfect)

You enjoy stories that take place in the vast loneliness of space with emotional baggage.
You want to see a god cry. Or at least sigh a lot.
You like speculative fiction that asks, “What if free will is the reason everything falls apart?”
You’re secretly hoping for a twist. (There is one.)
You just love existential sadness wrapped in stars.

Or maybe…
You just want to see how far one writer’s ego will go when handed a keyboard and a cosmic question.

Either way,
The Last Thought of God is ongoing now. The first two chapters are live. And you can read the whole thing for free.
Because if you’re going to rewrite the nature of existence itself… you might as well give it away on a blog.

👉 Rat Tales

Disclaimer: No gods were harmed in the making of this story.
Though some were emotionally wounded.

🌳 A Different Kind of Journey: The Garden of Eden Like You’ve Never Heard It

2025-04-25T07:00:00.014-05:00

Well now, friends, I know this blog is usually about muddy trails, chirping birds, and the quiet kind of peace you only find under a tree with the breeze blowing just right. But today, I want to tell you about a different kind of adventure—one that doesn’t happen down by the creek or through the woods, but somewhere much deeper. Somewhere older.

I’ve written a new story over on my Rat Tales blog. You can find the link above.

It’s called The Garden of Eden: A Story of Knowledge, Wisdom, and Mercy. Now before you go thinking I’ve traded in my walking stick for a preacher’s robe, don’t worry—I haven’t gone and rewritten the Bible. What I’ve done is take the original story of Adam and Eve and given it a bit of imagination, some emotional insight, and a heart full of respect.

This story stays true to the heart of the biblical account, but looks at it from a fresh angle. What if we spent a little time with Eve before she ate the fruit? What if we could see God’s heartbreak as well as His judgment? What if mercy was woven into the story even before the first steps outside the Garden?

I split it into six chapters, and I’ll be publishing one each Friday. Kind of like a weekly campfire tale, only with a bit more angels and a bit less raccoons.

If you like stories with a little soul, and maybe a tear or two mixed in with the wonder, I think you’ll like it.

📖 I Gave A Preview Copy to a Critic - Here’s What She Said

It’s thoughtful. It’s emotional. And it walks that fine line between storytelling and reverence. I’d say it complements the original story rather than competes with it.

Rating: 9.6 out of 10
A spiritually rich tale with a heavy dose of heart.

🍎 Here’s a Little Taste of What’s Coming:

“Eve brought the fruit carefully to her lips. She paused a final moment, feeling an unspoken warning somewhere deep within. But the serpent’s eyes urged her onward, reassuring her fears.

She closed her eyes and took a gentle, delicate bite.

Instantly, knowledge flooded her mind like a fierce, uncontrollable tide. Her heart filled with shame, with fear, with a thousand questions she didn’t yet know how to ask. And for the first time in all her days, she felt alone.”

So if you're in the mood for something a little different, but still rooted in the kind of truth that makes you stop and breathe a little deeper—check it out. The first chapter comes out this Friday. That's right now!

I reckon it’s the most important kind of journey we can take: the one that starts in the Garden, but leads straight through the human heart.

I'll talk to you later.

A Sneak Peek Of Something Special

2025-03-26T07:00:00.006-05:00

Hey you! It's been awhile. I have a new writing project I've been working on. I think it's going to be special. The picture above is a sneak peek of what it will be. I can't say when it will be finished and ready, but I am hoping it will be in about a month from now.

For now, I invite you to guess. I can only say that it is something familiar to everyone. When I finish it, I will announce it right here on this blog. Get ready!

I'll talk to you later.

Merry Christmas from The Everyday Adventurer!

2024-12-24T07:00:00.001-06:00

Well, hello there, friends! It's been far too long since I've come around to share a story or two from my wanderings through the trails. Life has its funny little twists, doesn't it? One day you're striding happily down a quiet forest path, and the next you're swept up in the busyness of everyday life. But on this Christmas Day, I couldn't let the moment pass without stopping in to say a warm and heartfelt Merry Christmas to you all!

Christmas, to me, always brings to mind the kind of peace you find out on the trail. It's the stillness of freshly fallen snow on the trees, the quiet whisper of the wind carrying some distant mystery, and the soft crunch of footsteps marking the way. Out there, everything feels just right—like the world itself is offering you a quiet little gift. And maybe that's what this day is all about: stepping back, taking a deep breath, and remembering the simple beauty of the world around us.

If I close my eyes, I can almost hear it now—a tiny chickadee calling out from a snow-dusted branch, a squirrel rustling through its winter stash, and the faint crackle of ice as the creek freezes over. It's nature's Christmas carol, and if you listen closely enough, it's singing for you, too.

Wherever you are today, I hope you're surrounded by warmth, joy, and perhaps a little bit of that trail magic we all love so much. Maybe there's a hike waiting for you tomorrow, a new adventure just beyond the horizon. Or maybe you're simply content to sit back, sip some hot cocoa, and let the day wrap around you like a cozy old quilt. Either way, this season is a perfect reminder that sometimes the simplest moments are the ones that matter most.

Thank you for walking this path with me, dear readers. Your presence has been one of the most unexpected and treasured joys of this little blogging journey of mine. I'm looking forward to sharing more trails and tales in the new year. For now, I'll leave you with this:

May your Christmas be as peaceful as a quiet forest, as joyful as a bubbling stream, and as warm as a campfire under the stars.

Merry Christmas, my friends, and here's to many adventures yet to come!

I'll talk to you later, Ratty

Look At That!

2024-12-17T18:40:00.001-06:00

Hi! The picture is just a little something until I can get a new post written. I'll talk to you later!

I Wrote A Story for My New Sponsor!

2024-07-20T06:00:00.004-05:00

Hi everybody. I'm back for a quick note. I'll be back to post from time to time when I have something good to post. I don't want to write something here when I don't have anything interesting to write. I love sharing my pictures and I love writing my little nonsense stories even more.

With that, I have something to tell you. You may have noticed that I have a new sponsor sitting in my sidebar. MLD Trading recently had a new idea for their product promotion after noticing the stories on my Rat Tales blog. So they have given me an opportunity to write some fiction stories to promote their products.

I agreed that it was a fantastic idea, and the pay was right, so I am going to write a story for them from time to time. I wrote the first story and it was posted yesterday. It is called "The Heart Of Lucerne".

I'm not asking you to buy any of their stuff. That's up to those guys to do. I just wanted to share the story with you if anybody is interested. It was fun writing it. I never wrote a paid story before. You can find it here: The Heart Of Lucerne

I'll talk to you later.

My Blizzard Hike Misadventure

2024-01-03T08:00:00.001-06:00

Hey there, fellow nature enthusiasts and reckless adventurers! Today, I'm here to share a tale that you might think is a little funny but also wags a finger at the more foolhardy among us. It's about the time I decided to challenge Mother Nature herself and learned a lesson in humility – and physics.

Picture this: a few years back, I was your everyday hiking adventurer, hitting the trails of my local nature park with the enthusiasm of a squirrel on an acorn hunt. Rain or shine, I was there. But then came the day when the news forecast a blizzard. Did that stop me? Of course not! I laced up my boots, grabbed my trusty camera (a partner in all my escapades), and headed out into a winter wonderland.

The trails were a blanket of untouched snow, and the snowfall was so thick it turned the world into a giant snow globe. I was a few miles in when I decided to take a loop back, probably prompted by the tiny voice of reason that I usually keep gagged and bound in the back of my mind.

As I trudged along, I reached the top of a large gulley. It looked innocent enough, but looks, as we know, can be deceiving. The moment I stepped onto the snowy and icy slope, my feet decided they had enough of being under my control. Whoosh! Down I went, sliding all the way down the hill. It was like an impromptu sled ride, minus the sled. And in a desperate attempt to save my camera, I held it high above my head like a trophy, making the whole scene look like a bizarre ritual to the snow gods.

When the ride was over, I lay there on my back, a human snow angel (or snowman-in-progress). First things first, I checked for injuries – none, thankfully. My camera? Also unscathed. It seems luck favors the foolish – sometimes.

Getting up, I decided that was enough thrill-seeking for one day. I walked back to the park exit with the cautious steps of someone who's just learned their lesson. That day, my love for hiking had pushed me into a foolhardy blizzard adventure.

So, here's the moral of the story: love nature, enjoy hiking, but maybe, just maybe, when the news screams 'blizzard,' it's a good idea to listen. Stay safe out there and remember, a good story is only fun if you're around to tell it!

I'll talk to you later.

A Blustery Day's Shock While Hiking in the Forest

2023-11-13T08:00:00.009-06:00

Howdy folks! Let me spin you a tale about an old hike of mine that turned out to be anything but ordinary. It was one of those days in my local nature park where the sky was more gray than blue, and the wind had a bit of a mischievous whistle to it. A perfect setting for a tale, don't you think?

So, there I was, taking my regular stroll along the winding paths, with the wind playfully tugging at my jacket. The trees swayed like they were sharing secrets, and the whole forest seemed to be alive with whispers. I've always felt at home among these old trees, but that day, they seemed to hold a different story.

Without a moment's notice, the forest's whispers turned into a shout. A sound so loud and fearsome, it could've woken the ancient spirits! It was like a giant's growl mixed with the crack of thunder – a deafening crashing and tearing that echoed across the woods. My heart skipped a beat, I tell you.

Turning towards the ruckus, what I saw was a sight to behold. A mighty tree, older and taller than any storybook giant, was surrendering to the wind. It was falling, and oh, it didn’t fall alone. Like a king in its final descent, it took several of its woodland companions along with it. An awe-inspiring, yet heartbreaking ballet of nature.

There I stood, rooted to the spot, my eyes wide as saucers. Shocked, startled, and just a bit scared, if I'm being honest. It's not every day you witness such a display of nature's raw power. And would you believe it, in all that astonishment, I didn’t even think to snap a picture. So, you'll just have to use my new artwork here to help you picture it in your mind.

The rest of my walk was a quiet one, filled with thoughts about the age-old dance of nature – creation and destruction, all in one. It’s moments like these that remind us of the grandeur and unpredictability of the great outdoors.

So next time you're out in the woods, take a moment to listen to its stories and respect its power. And maybe, just maybe, you'll have a tale of your own to tell. Stay safe and keep exploring, my friends! I'll talk to you later.

From Nature's Whispers to Dreamy Depths: Where to Find My Stories Online

2023-11-06T10:43:00.000-06:00

Hey there, everybody!

I think it's about time I shared a small update with you about where I've been scatterin' my words across the internet like autumn leaves on a blustery day. I've been divvying up my time between this cozy corner of the web and a few other nooks where I spin my yarns.

Now, you might already know about "Nature Center Magazine," where I'm one of the folks weaving tales and sharing whispers about the great outdoors. It’s a place where us writers get to natter about the birds, the bees, and the rustle of leaves underfoot. Anything that’s part and parcel of the natural world gets its due over there. And let me tell you, it’s a real treat for those who fancy a walk in the woods or a paddle down a stream, all from the comfort of your favorite chair.

Then there's my little shadowy corner of the web dubbed "Rat Tales." That’s where the light of my laptop flickers into the wee hours as I craft fictional short stories. They’re often as dark and twisty as a winter gale on the moors, with a fair few sending shivers down your spine. Mind you, it’s not all doom and gloom. Every now and again, I’ll spin a tale that’ll tickle your funny bone, just to prove the sun does shine on a rat's tail sometimes.

And, oh, let's not forget about "Strange Dreams Of The Rat." If you ever fancied a peek into the oddly creative nooks and crannies of my noggin, that’s the place to be. I share the odd, vivid dreams that frequent my sleep, giving you a front-row seat to the theater of my subconscious. It’s a bit like reading the diary of a man who’s had one too many cups of tea before bed – strange, unpredictable, but always intriguing.

I know, I know, seems like I’m spread as thin as butter on too much bread, but worry not. I’ve still got plenty of butter to go around, and this blog here won’t be left wanting. I’m just adding a bit more flavor to the internet, one word at a time.

So, keep your eyes peeled, your minds open, and your bookmarks handy. There's plenty to read, and heavens knows, I've got plenty to tell. As always, I’m mighty grateful for the time you spend with my words, and I hope you’ll saunter over to my other haunts for a spell.

'Til next time, keep your feet warm and your thoughts wild.

I'll talk to you later, Ratty

A Squirrelly Surprise in the Heart of the Park

2023-11-02T08:00:00.005-05:00

Well, folks, let me tell you about an unexpected encounter I had on one of my old morning strolls through my beloved local nature park. The kind of moment that leaves you scratching your head and thinking, "Did I really just see that?" And it involves one of my favorite subjects. Squirrels!

The morning was off to a great start. The air was crisp, the sunlight peeked through the trees in that magical way it does, and the world seemed to be humming along just right. I was lost in thought, admiring the beauty around me, when a sudden rustling caught my attention.

Right there in front of me stood a grand old tree, one that's probably seen more sunrises than any of us. And from this tree, would you believe it, hundreds of squirrels were making a dash for it! They scattered in every direction, their tails a flurry of motion, and the forest floor seemed alive with their energy. I was so taken aback by the sight, I just stood there staring, forgetting completely about my camera. The moment was so surreal, I forgot to even snap a picture.

As a side note, the picture below is the first view of what I look like without my fake rat suit on that I like to claim that I wear while hiking. Oh, that isn't really me, but it's remarkably close. I wore a brown jacket then, and mine had a hood.

This is also one of my old adventures that I've finally been able to bring to life in these new pictures. It really happened, but sadly I don't have the pictures to prove it this time. Even so, I'll remember it to the end of my days. How could I forget something like that?

So, if you're ever wandering through your local park and come across an old tree like that one, keep an eye out. Nature has a way of surprising us when we least expect it. And maybe, just maybe, you'll be luckier than me and capture your wild moment for posterity!

Thank you to the few of you who remember me. I read all your comments. I'll talk to you later.

The Legend of Ratty and the Raccoons

2023-11-01T08:00:00.008-05:00

It was a day like any other as I embarked on a leisurely stroll through our local nature park. The chirping of the birds and the rustling of the leaves provided a calming soundtrack to my thoughts. Just as I was lost in the serene ambiance, a soft patter of footsteps caught my attention.

To my astonishment, a group of friendly raccoons emerged from the underbrush, their curious eyes locked onto mine. It wasn't just one or two, but a whole family! They approached slowly, their bushy tails swaying with each step, displaying a mix of caution and curiosity. I couldn't help but stand still, captivated by the unexpected encounter.

But here's where the story takes a twist. While these raccoons seemed friendly, my instinctual reaction was to make a swift exit. And by swift, I mean I channeled my inner Olympic sprinter and bolted for a solid two miles! Who knew the sight of fluffy raccoons could turn a leisurely walk into a full-blown marathon training session? As I caught my breath, I chuckled at my own antics, thinking, "Well, that's one way to get some cardio in!" Lesson learned: always expect the unexpected in nature, and maybe pack some running shoes, just in case.

You may think that I made all of this up because these aren't real pictures. But no! This all really happened to me several years ago. And I really do have the pictures to prove it. But you say, "Why don't you share them here?" Well, I did. You can find the pictures of the actual encounter in my blog archives right here on The Everyday Adventurer. I made these new pictures because I wanted to illustrate the actual chase scene. I hope you like it. I'll talk to you later.

Ratty's Midnight Musings in the Mystical Forest

2023-10-31T08:00:00.003-05:00

By the hootin' of the owl and the rustlin' of the leaves! During one of my moonlit wanderings through the old woods in my local nature park, I think I had the most peculiar encounter. There stood a figure, horns tall as the tales my grandpa used to spin, and eyes that glowed like two fireflies caught in a mason jar.

Now, I'm not one to jump to conclusions, but I couldn't help but wonder if I'd come face-to-face with old Lucifer himself or maybe just Fred from down the road, playin' one of his infamous pranks.

Whatever it was, it's a gentle reminder that the woods, well, they've got their fair share of stories, mysteries, and a sprinkle of magic. So, next time you find yourself out there under a canopy of stars, keep your eyes peeled; you never know what you might find.

You might think my posting is a little strange now that I'm back, but this is what I got for ya for now. I think it's fun. Besides, it's too cold to go out to the real forest right now. I'll talk to you later!

Chupacabra Or Me?

2023-10-30T08:00:00.007-05:00

Late night in the forest and I bump into this Chupacabra... or was it just my reflection after binge-watching bad TV shows all night?

Happy Halloween!

I Spotted Bigfoot

2023-10-12T21:52:00.003-05:00

I was out taking pictures of my local nature and I got a Bigfoot sighting. They're everywhere nowadays.

I'm Still Wandering Around

2023-01-25T20:13:00.000-06:00

Hello, is anybody there? It's been a very long time. You have probably all wandered off looking for some actual activity. But if any of you are still lurking around, I just wanted to let you know that I am well.

I have been posting new articles on Nature Center Magazine recently, and I have written new stories on my other blog Rat Tales. I may even stop back around here from time to time, but for now it's easier to post on those other sites.

You can find those other websites above this post on my link bar. I think I have written some good stuff there, but I guess that's for you to decide. It's been good talking to you again after all this time, and I'll hopefully see some of the old familiar names in the comments sections of those other sites. Thanks.

I'll talk to you later.

Spring Time

2021-03-25T12:00:00.003-05:00

I'm just checking in. I'll be back when I can.

Just Checking In

2020-12-12T06:00:00.001-06:00

Hi everybody. It's been a while. I'm just checking in to let you all know I'm still here. I'll be back all the way when I get something to write about. It's been kind of difficult to find something the last few months. I like writing about nature, but it can get boring around here when I don't go to a nature park. The problem is that they're all closed here in the winter months. I'll think of something as soon as I can. I'll hopefully talk to you again soon.

Hello! I'm Back! Are You?

2020-09-02T06:00:00.002-05:00

I took these pictures 3 weeks ago. I was going to post them shortly after then but I got self conscious about it because I had been gone so long. I hope you enjoy these and my story if you're still here with me.

Before I start I noticed that Blogger has made a few changes. I like what I see in the first few minutes. I hope it is still a good experience as I go on with my edits to this post. Anyway, let's get on with it.

Any of you longer time readers may remember that my dog hates to ride in a vehicle. Well, she made a conscious effort shortly before this trip to ride just so she could stay with me. She actually asked to go in her doggy way.

The poor dog endured a long trip to one nature park near the river. I took lots of pictures there but for some reason they all ended up blurry and messed up. I didn't realize it until I got home and looked at everything.

But after she took the trip to the first park so bravely I decided to continue on to this bigger nature park. It was an even farther distance away from home. She did great getting to this one. She was learning fast.

We got out of the truck and explored the edge of the river here for quite awhile. This is where I got all of the pictures. This is a beautiful place that only gets better every year I come here.

The dog, Delilah is always amazed by what she sees whenever she is brave enough to go. She has only ever been to a nature park a few times now. I'm going to change that now that she is getting better about riding.

Honestly, that is part of what has been holding me back about blogging. I just felt bad about going to a nature park without my dog. I'm also still experimenting with how far I can walk now too. But the dog was the main thing. I think she'll be fine now.

After I was done wandering around near the river with my excited dog, I decided to wrap things up. Before I left though, I went to look at the forested area behind the restrooms. I never went over there the many times I've been here. I was amazed by what I found.

A nature trail! There it was calling to me to explore it just like I used to do with other trails. The only problem was that I was too tired by then to answer that call. I decided that it was going to have to wait for another time.

I think that other time is coming in a couple days from now. I'm all set to take my dog on a walk through a good old forested nature trail just like I used to do in years past. I'm going to be in heaven! I hope the dog feels the same about the trails as I do. I think she will.

And to anyone who is still here with me, thanks for reading my blog. I missed you. I'll talk to you later.

Something To Post

2020-06-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to post something, anything. I don't have much to say this time. I just wanted to let everyone know I'm here. I'll leave it at that this time, and I'll talk to you later.

Delilah The Mischief Maker

2020-05-09T10:15:00.000-05:00

Here is something my dog Delilah likes to do. Let me tell you a story about my annoying dog.

Because of the current health situation, my mom has come to stay at my house with me. It's because I live out in the country away from most civilization and most people. It makes things a lot easier for her to stay safe and healthy.

I have everything set up nice for her. I bought her all the stuff for her new bedroom. She has a new bed and a big television in there so she can watch TV whenever she wants. I also made sure she has her own good chair in the living room. She also has a laptop she keeps on a little stand right by her chair. I got her hooked on the internet many years ago.

Because she doesn't see as well as she used to, my mom has a little light that plugs into the USB port on her laptop. This way she can see her keyboard when the light is a little dim. The light is an LED light that can be turned on or off by just touching it.

Delilah likes my mom a lot but she also likes to irritate her as much as she can. I constantly have to yell at the dog to stay away from my mom for the many things she does to bother her. Some of it is accidental, but some of it is clearly on purpose. Delilah loves mischief.

My mom isn't afraid of dogs or anything like that. On the contrary, most dogs are a little intimidated by her and always try to be friends with her. Delilah is no exception. My mom is mostly indifferent to dogs, but she says she thinks Delilah is kind of amusing.

Anyway, one of the things Delilah likes to do to irritate my mom involves that computer light. Delilah is very intelligent and she observes things whenever she can. She watched my mom and figured out that the computer light can be turned on by touching it.

So Delilah waits until my mom isn't looking and will sneak over and turn that light on whenever she thinks nobody will notice. She is definitely sneaking. I've seen her to it many times now. She seems to think it's funny because of the reaction she gets. My mom usually thinks she turned it on herself by accident.

I also can't keep Delilah in her kennel cage by herself anymore either. She figured out how to open the latch and get out. I thought at first she just got lucky but I've seen her open it several times now. It's okay though because I don't really need to keep her in there anymore anyway. She's usually pretty safe roaming the house by herself if nobody is home.

And that's all I really have this time. There are plenty of Delilah stories because she's a weird dog. But I don't think you don't want to read them all. I mostly just needed to write another post to let you know I'm still here. I keep hoping to get something from a nature park soon. One of these next few times I'll do it.

I'll talk to you later.

Delilah And Her New Clothes

2020-04-04T10:10:00.000-05:00

It's pretty difficult to get anything new to post right now, but I have something for you anyway. This is Delilah in her Thundershirt. This thing is to calm a dog that has anxiety problems. It does it by squeezing them a little. Delilah is a pretty happy dog normally, but she still has a terrible time while riding in the truck. That's why I got this Thundershirt for her.

I wish I could say that it works great but I haven't had a chance to try it out yet. She doesn't really like wearing it but she also doesn't mind it much. I think of she wore it enough she'd come to think of it like she does her collar. She gets very upset if I remove her collar. All of my dogs have been like that. I think the dogs think of their collar as part of them or that it is their clothes.

I would have gotten Delilah another color of this Thundershirt, probably blue, but I forgot to choose the color. I usually assign my dog a color when I first get them. Delilah has a blue collar. Isabella had black. And Tilly before them had pink.

Anyway, I live in the country, so I can still go out to places like a hiking park if I want to. So maybe I'll try to get some halfway decent pictures from a place like that soon if it doesn't flood too much here. I really need to post a little more often if I can. I'll talk to you later.

Robot Woes

2020-02-27T06:00:00.000-06:00

While I'm still very distracted from my nature adventures I want to tell you the story of my vacuum cleaner misadventure. Let's get into it.

It started out wonderful. I bought a brand new robot vacuum cleaner to replace my old Roomba that wasn't quite as spry as it used to be. I told you about it here in this post. It was the Neato Botvac D4. And it ran wonderfully for the first 3 months.

Then one day it began acting kind of confused and was moving a little slowly. The main problem though was that it kept getting stuck and giving an error whenever it tried to return to its recharging base.

I have to admit that I panicked a little. I thought I had spent $500 on a lemon and it would never work right again. I needed that robot vacuum cleaner! I'm much too busy to vacuum the house every day myself. And it had been doing such a great job of cleaning up the dog hair! But not now. A house full of dog hair is a horrible thing.

After I calmed down a bit I followed the links to the chat with Neato Support. The guy was actually very helpful. He asked me to try a few tests, which I did, to see if the machine could fix itself. Which it didn't. At the end of the chat, there didn't seem to be a solution. I was not very happy.

But then the support person followed up on my case through email the next day. He asked me if the machine had improved. I said no. And after a little back and forth he set me up with the information to send my vacuum cleaner in for the company to look at.

I took my machine to FedEx where I paid them about $20 to package the machine securely for me. I could have done it myself for free, but I figured they'd do it better. And they knew exactly what to do. And so my precious investment was sent off for servicing.

After about a week I got a large package delivered to me by FedEx. It was my vacuum cleaner! The great thing was that I didn't have to pay a dime for them to fix it for me. I wasn't sure about that part when I began the process.

I got it all unboxed and took the time to charge it back up, and then I started it up on a good test run to make sure it was okay. It wasn't! The robot acted confused and then errored when it tried to return to the charging base. After a closer examination I saw that they had replaced the filter, and maybe the brush, but they had done absolutely no repair on it. Again, I was not happy. It was time to try the chat support again.

After quite a lot of time and frustration talking to this new person who seemed kind of skeptical about my situation, I finally got it through to them that this machine really needed to be repaired. I learned during the chat that they could monitor the machine over the internet. I'm not so sure how much I like that. But it was time to send the machine back to the company for them to service it one more time. Would they actually fix it this time?

This time I just packed it back into the box it came in. No extra charges for me. I made the trip back to Sioux City to the FedEx Store and sent it off again. Again, they knew exactly what to do. The woman there even knew right away when I walked in that I had a robot vacuum in the box. Impressive.

And so, after another week I got my machine back again. I wasn't exactly encouraged about a successful repair this time because of my previous experience, but I was still hopeful. So, what do you think happened when I was able to do the test run?

Success! It was working! My vacuum cleaner was repaired this time, and it was back to its old great working self. My dog still thinks this second robot is a jerk, but it works just fine now. My dog doesn't like this one because she was kinda best pals with the old one. She loved playing with it while it cleaned. She thinks this one stole its job.

In the end, (and after this long post), I'm happy with the support I received from the company. It took a little too long to figure out that the machine should get fixed, but they did fix it and they did it for free. Free is all I could ask for.

And that's my story. Maybe you don't want to read another one like this, but I think my next post is going to be about the new computer I just built. I'm going to whine a bit about that one too. I hope you can stand it.

I'll talk to you later.

My Internet Is Finally Back

2020-02-05T06:00:00.000-06:00

It seems like circumstances and just my own laziness are conspiring to drive away any blog friends I have left here. The last update I gave was about my lack of internet. I'm glad to say that those problems have been finally solved. It actually only took about a week to get things settled. I really need to tell you about it. This might be a slightly longer story than usual. I hope you can last till the end.

On a Monday I had two appointments with my internet company to see about getting my internet sorted out.

The first appointment was to survey my situation to see about getting high-speed fiber optic cable put in here in the future. The government gave my service provider a lot of money to provide this new stuff for all of us in the surrounding rural area.

They only came out to assess the situation this time. They'll lay down the cable sometime around the middle of summer. Then hopefully by the end of the year, they'll connect everything up to the houses.

My internet speed at the time they came out was about 3mbps. Once they're finished they tell me my new speed will be 1gbps. That's well over 300 times as fast as my original speed. I'll finally be as fast as the modern civilized world when they're done.

But that's almost a year away from now. What happened in the second appointment?

The second appointment was so they could come out and replace my old non-working internet equipment with some new stuff that should fix me up just fine. They also said the new stuff will work with the fiber optic internet when it comes.

When the guys got there they came in and looked at the old box. The guy immediately told me that everyone who still had that old box was complaining. He also said that box was miserably outdated and they couldn't even update it anymore.

I wondered why they didn't send me a letter or something to upgrade me in the first place. They should have come out a long time ago. I should not have had to call them to tell them there was a problem. Even so, they were here now to fix it.

They did a quick unplug of the old box and plugged in the two new boxes that I have now. The guy said everything should be fine now.

As we were talking, the guy incidentally asked me about what I was currently paying for their service. I told him and, even though he tried to hide it, he looked a little shocked. He then assumed I was also getting phone service too. I told him no, that I was only getting internet. I was not happy. I now knew I was paying way too much and had been for years.

He then asked me what my internet speed was. I told him the 3mbps. He then informed me that I could get 10mbps right now. All I had to do is call and they would just flip a switch. Well, why didn't they just do it automatically? He said it would cost a little extra. That's fine. I'd just like to get out of the stone age!

Let me explain something. Before I moved here from Michigan, internet wasn't as fast as it is today anywhere. 10mbps is probably the fastest internet I've ever had. I was now as happy as can be and I forgot about my problem with them not taking care of this easier for me.

Then when I called them to get that switch flipped, they told me the cost would be different. Can you guess what the difference might be?

Not only did they upgrade my current internet speed, but I now pay only half the price I was paying before. I'm finally feeling good about my internet here. I can even watch HD video content now. And the only thing holding me back from posting new stuff here is my own laziness and the weather you see in today's pictures. I'll talk to you later, hopefully sooner.

Internet Problems And The Solution

2020-01-08T15:00:00.001-06:00

No pictures this time because I'm having terrible internet issues. My internet connection is so unstable that it's almost unusable. I called the service provider and they told me my whole setup is old and needs to be updated. They've been getting reports like mine from most of the users of my particular equipment.

I had to order a new router on Amazon to replace my old equipment. It will get here in a few days. Once it gets here I can then set up an appointment for the service provider to hook that and the other new stuff up. Hopefully, then I can get everything back up and running normally.

I also received some very good news from my service provider. My current internet is only DHL, which is very slow. They informed me that we here in this part of rural Iowa are getting switched to fiber-optic broadband high-speed internet in this area within the year.

So I set up another appointment for them to come out and survey my property to get the fiber-optic stuff ready for me. I'll finally be back to the internet speeds of the rest of the civilized world. I can't wait!

That's about it for this post. I just needed to share this news while I could get on here. I'll talk to you later.